One horse dead, three rescued from ravine

May 4, 2012

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Before the accident occurred Friday morning: The Norco Outriders finish their ride for the day ending a six-hour, 14.5 mile trek through Orange County. They bed down in Silverado Canyon before getting an early-morning start for their second day of a four-day trek. MINDY SCHAUER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Horseback riders from Norco, make their annual trek through South Orange County near Crown Valley and Marguerite Parkways Thursday. On Friday, four of the horses fell down a ravine along West Horsethief Trail, where one of the horses died, officials said. MINDY SCHAUER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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On Thursday, the Norco Outriders finish their ride for the day ending a six-hour, 14.5 mile trek through Orange County. On Friday, four of the horses fell into a ravine along West Horse Thief Trail, where one of them was killed in the accident, officials said. MINDY SCHAUER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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A lone Norco Outrider rides a path near Crown Valley and Marguerite Parkways. MINDY SCHAUER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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The Norco Outriders, 45 men on horseback, make their annual four-day trek. They started in San Juan Capistrano and cruised through South Orange County near Crown Valley and Marguerite Parkways. Some in the group have participated in this event for 18 years. MINDY SCHAUER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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The Norco Outriders finish their ride for the day ending a six-hour, 14.5 mile trek through Orange County. They started in San Juan Capistrano and finished in Silverado Canyon. Their traditional ride will cover 62 miles in four days. MINDY SCHAUER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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A Norco Outrider is framed in a concrete pipe as he arrives in Silverado after a six-hour ride through Orange County. MINDY SCHAUER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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A blue-eyed horse rests after the six-hour ride during the Norco Outriders annual four-day trek. MINDY SCHAUER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Horses are tied up and rested after Thursdays trek through Orange County during the Norco Outriders annual trip. The recreational riders started the tradition 18 years ago. MINDY SCHAUER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Horses and riders rest after a six-hour ride from San Juan Capistrano to Silverado during the Norco Outriders traditional four-day ride for fun. The group is composed of 45 men from different professions. MINDY SCHAUER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Norco Outrider Antonio Barreto unsaddles his horse Blaze after the six-hour ride from San Juan Capistrano to Silverado Canyon. MINDY SCHAUER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Horseback riders with the Norco Outriders make their annual trek through South Orange County near Crown Valley and Marguerite Parkways . Some in the group have participated in this for 18 years. MINDY SCHAUER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Before the accident occurred Friday morning: The Norco Outriders finish their ride for the day ending a six-hour, 14.5 mile trek through Orange County. They bed down in Silverado Canyon before getting an early-morning start for their second day of a four-day trek. MINDY SCHAUER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

TRABUCO CANYON – One horse died and three others had to be rescued Friday after becoming trapped in a ravine.

Authorities have not outlined how the accident occurred, but four horses were reported to have become stuck in a ravine near Horsethief Trail, said Brian Harris, spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service. One horse was killed in the accident, he said.

Based on their preliminary investigation, officials do not believe that the horses fell. It was unclear how the one horse died.

"For whatever reason, they wandered off the trail," Harris said of the other three horses. "They actually appear to be quite healthy; they are just stuck."

Organized by the Norco Outriders, the annual ride has taken place for 18 years, traveling from south Orange County, near Santiago Peak, to the Corona/Norco area.

Reached by cell phone, one organizer said none of the riders was seriously injured.

"Nobody got hurt bad," said Mike Williams.

The group started Thursday morning, riding along San Juan Capistrano Trail, through the O'Neill Wilderness Park and down Trabuco Canyon Road.

On Friday, the group was back on the road by 7 a.m. and headed to Trabuco Road and Indian Truck Trail, where they would continue into a camp in Corona.

Two helicopters were dispatched from Orange County for assistance, as well as animal-rescue teams from Norco and Orange County.

One of the horses was freed late Friday afternoon when rescuers were able to cut a trail down to it and walk it back to the main trail, Harris said.

The other two horses were sedated then airlifted by helicopter to nearby Blue Jay campground.

Three riders were hoisted from the bottom of the ravine onto the main trail. The three were not injured but were exhausted, Harris said.

Officials said it will be up to the owner of the horse that died to decide what to do with the animal.

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